Alleged Terrorism, Murder: Delta monarch, 2 others docked, granted N10m bail  

By Akpos Oghenetega,

The monarch of Evwreni Kingdom, HRM Oghenekevwe Kumane and two of his subjects were yesterday arraigned for alleged terrorism and murder before Hon Justice Okon Effreti Abang of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State.

The other two suspects arraign alongside with traditional ruler in amended 10-Count charges in suit no: FHC/WR/95C/2020 are, Atiri Stephen, Kelly Omojughere Kumane over an alleged crisis that led to the murder of Omoghene Akakor and Sylvester Adjogbe

It would be recalled that the monarch appeared in court on June 9, 2022, for arraignment but the process was aborted as the trial Judge was unavoidably absent and the case adjourned to October 25, 2022.

Advocate.ng reports that Justice Abang had informed both parties on June 9, 2022, that, the court would only entertain fundamental human rights cases on that day, leading to the adjournment.

HRM Kumane and 2 others pleaded not guilty at the resumed sitting yesterday in the amended 10-count charges read before them by the Court Registrar.

Counsel to the monarch, Albert Akpomudje SAN move an oral application for bail for the monarch but it was opposed by led prosecuting counsel, Mr Sani Bagudu of the Federal Ministry of Justice who stood in for the Attorney of the Federation.

Mr Bagudu argued that “granting the traditional and other accuse bail without filing an application should not be accepted by the court as they might likely jump bail.

“The offence of the accused persons is a capital offence under the law as such bail should not be granted through an oral application.”

“The offence of the accused persons is a capital offence under the law which the bail should not be granted in an oral application.

After counter argument from both counsels that lasted for over 5 hours, the Judge in his ruling granted N10m (Ten million naira) bail to the monarch, while two others, Atiri Stephen and Kelly Omojughere were reminded at the correctional centre

In his ruling on the bail application, Hon Justice Okon Effreti Abang held that: “I have considered the argument of learned SAN and learned counsel for the prosecution, they have spoken well.

“First of all, I agreed with the prosecuting learned counsel that the court is a place of records and the same time and agreed with the learned SAN that a court is a place of summary and jurisdiction and the court can take applications for bail orally.

“In the light of the above, the first defendant (HRM Oghenekevwe Kumane) is admitted to bail with the sum N10m (Ten Million naira) with just one surety who must be a responsible citizen in Delta State with a verifiable address.

The surety shall swear an affidavit that he is capable to refund together sum with two passport photographs and a verifiable address. The 2nd and 3rd defendants, Stephen Atiri and Kelly Omojuhere Kumane are to remain in custody as the oral application for their bail is refused till January 30 and 31, 2023 the next adjourned date.